Ice tray



April 1939- D. H. REEVES I 2,154,357 I ICE TRAY Fi led June 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. P046940 6f P5: was.

m... we.

ms- ATTORNEYS.

April 1939- D. H. REEVES 2,154,357

I lCE TRAY Filed June 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. paw/J0 6{ Pa: v53,

, 1/1.: ATTORNEYS.

ll, v VE I ICE TRAY Filed June 17, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 11 1939 Ion mar Donald H. Reeves, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton; Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June 17, 1931, Serial No. 148,743 15 Claims. (Clea-108.5)

This invention relates to ice trays and grid structures therefor employed in mechanically.

. refrigerated household refrigerator cabinets.

One object of my invention isto provide an improved freezing device for liquids including an ice tray and a metallic grid structure therefor which device facilitates the removal of the grid together with ice blocks adhering thereto from the tray and removal of ice blocks from the grid structure without the application of artificial heat thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide an ice tray with an improved removable grid structure of the type which comprises a plurality of rigid partitioning walls having obstructions thereon and being movable relative to another partitioning wall for breaking a bond between ice blocks in the structure and walls of the structure for effecting release of ice blocks therefrom. a

A further object of my invention is to provide an ice tray with an improved grid structure comprising a plurality of rigid corrugated metallic partitioning walls which are movable independently .of one another relative to another corrugated metallic partitioning wall to cause ice blocks to act against or between the irregular surfaces of the partitioning walls for moving ice blocks in .a plurality of directions to break the bond between the blocks and walls of the grid structure.

In carrying out the foregoing objects still further objects and advantages of my invention reside in details of construction of my improved grid structure and in novel combinations and arra'ngements of parts thereof which provides for a lowing description. In the drawings:

comprising a tray having agrid structure therein constructedin accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device shown in Fig.

1 and is taken on the .line 2'-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the devicetaken' on the line, 33 of Fig. 1 showing he,association of transverse walls of the grid with the longitudinal wall thereof;

Fig. 4 is a side view,of the ice tray shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; o r Fig. 5 is a bottom view of in my freezing'device;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing 5 the tray flexed and disclosing the grid structure and ice blocks adhering thereto released from the tray; I I

Fig. 'l is a view of the grid structure removed from the tray and showing certain walls of the grid moved relative to another will thereof for the ice tray employed Fig. l is a top plan vieweof a freezing device mam breaking an ice bond between the ice blocks and the grid walls; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 -8. of Fig. 6 illustrating the broken ice bond and showing the ice blocks moved away from the wall of the grid.

Referring to the drawings, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have disclosed a metal.

ice tray lil'having sidewalls l I (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5), a bottom wall I2 and opposed end walls l3 and M. The tray end wall I 4 converges outwardly from the bottom to the top of tray [0 and the side walls may also be converged outwardly,- if

desired. The upright walls ll, l3 and M of tray mounting for a heavy metal piece I! which has a handle l8 pivotally secured thereto. The handle l8 facilitates placing of tray in in or on a cooling element of a refrigerating system and a cam surface l9 formed thereon functions, upoh actuating handle i8, to break an ice bond between the tray and its support to permit removal of the tray together with its frozen contents from the cooling element as is well known in the art. It will be noted that the tray l 0 has a portion of its bottom wall l2 hear each end theieof raised, as at 2|, at an angle relative to other portions thereof. This raised or angled bottom wall portion M of tray l0 provides a shoulder or fulcrum line 22 which extends transversely across the tray bottom at an angle to the end portion I of tray ill. The flat portion of the bent-over top edge at the corner of tray I ll above the widest ,part of the raised or angled tray bottom portion 24 is adapted to be pressed for a purpose to be presently described.

A metallic grid structure, generally represented by the reference character 25, constituting the improved grid of the present invention is removabl'y disposed in tray Ill and divides the interior thereof into a'pluralityof open-top molds, cells or compartments. The grid structure 25 comprises rigid metal sections which are movable relative to one' another. One section of grid structure 25 is in the form of.a vertically disposed longitudinally. extending rigid metal par- 'titioning wall member 28. The other section of tending verticalwall 29, a short straight vertical grid structure 25 is in the form of a plurality of vertically disposed rigid metal partitioning wall members 21 intersecting the longitudinal wall 26 and extending transversely thereacross. The longitudinal grid wall 26 is provided with aplurality of spaced apart slots 28 extending from the top downwardly to about the middle thereof. These slots "are formed by a continuously exwall portion 6| and an angled wall portion 22 extending from the wall portion 3|. A slot 64 having straight substantially parallel side walls extends from the bottom edge of each transverse partition 21 upwardly to about the middle thereof (see'FigQ3). The slots 26 and 64 cooperate to permit the plurality of transverse wall members to straddle the longitudinal wall member "-26 of the grid structure 25 and to be movably interlocked thereto. It will be noted that slots 26 in the longitudinal wall member 26 receives a web portion of the transverse-walls 21 and that slots 64 in the transverse walls 21 receive a web portion of the longitudinal wall 26 and that such reception completes the grid to form a rigid unitary removable structure. It will also be noted that the transverse grid wall members 21 ex.- tend above the top of the longitudinal grid wall member 26 and have their upper ends bent over to form lips '38 for a purpose to be presently described. The longitudinal grid wall section or member26 is provided with longitudinally ex-- tending corrugations 4i and the transverse gridwalls or sections 21 are each provided with a plu- 26 rality of corrugations 42 for a purpose hereinafter described The slots 26 and 34 obviously are of such width as to receive and engage the raised parts of the horizontally extending corrugations 4| and 42 provided on grid wall partitioning mem- 60 bers 26 and 21 to cause these members to be firmly interlocked and held in substantially vertical positions relative to one another. The tapered or angled wall surface portion of slots 28 provided in wall member 26 insures that the raised parts of corrugations 42 provided in wall members 21 will be forced toward and into abutting engagement with the continuous vertical wall 26-of slots 28 when members 21 are-lowered into straddling position over member-26. The horizontally extending corrugations 4| and42 provided in grid members or sections 26 and 21 respectively form camming surfaces or obstructions along the sides of the members .and provide the grid structure with irregular wall surfaces which have a function that will become apparent in the description of the operation of the device.

The tray l6 after having been filled with water and having the grid structure 26 placed therein is positioned in oron a freezing portion of a cooling element or evaporator 01' a'refrigerating system to cause'freezing of the water into a pinrality ofblocks. To remove the grid structure 26 together with ice blocks adhering thereto from trayl'lfl, after the tray has been released and removed from-the'freezing support of the evaporator, the tray I 6 is placed upon a flat support such as a table or ledge and force is applied at the top corners thereof located remote from the shoulders or fulcrumed lines 22. Since the tray 1 is'constructed of relatively thin mtal it is somewhat flexible and the downward force applied to the ends thereof, as described, is transmitted to the fulcrum lines or shoulders 22 and causes flexure'or twisting of the tray, duelto. the angled I disposition of the fulcrum lines 22,' into the position illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Twisting of the tray as illustrated in Fig. 6 breaks the bond between thegic'e in tray l0 and the inner surfaces of the tray walls. The grid structure 25 together with ice blocks adhering thereto can 70 'then be readilyremoved from tray ill by inverting the tray to thereby permit harvesting of theice blocks from grid structure 25.

After .removal of the grid structure 25 and ice blocks adhering thereto from tray ill the transverse grid walls 21 can then be moved relative to the longitudinal grid wall 26. Therefore I provide a prying tool in the form of a lever (see Fig. 7) having a handle portion 46 and a finger end 41, formed by a bent fulcrum portion 46, is provided for this purpose. In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have shown the one end transverse grid wall 21 as having already been moved upwardly of thelongitudinal grid wall 26 to break the bond obtain the desired number of ice cubes or blocks.

the tool 46 isplaced upon the grid structure 26 with its bent fulcrum point 46 resting upon the top edge of longitudinal wall 26 andwith its finger or camming end 61 positioned under the bent-over lip portion 86 of one of the transverse walls 21. The handle end 46 of tool 46 is moved downwardly thus causing the bent part 48 thereof to fulcrum upon the top of longitudinal grid member 26 to raise the finger end 41 into the position illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. The force applied to lever or tool 46 for creating upwardmovement of the transverse grid member relative to the longitudinal grid member causes the convex and concave portions of corrugations 4| and 42 provided in the grid wall partitions 26 and 21 respectively to act as cam means against the ice blocks and this camming action moves the ice blocks relative to walls of the grid structure to release same therefrom to permit easy removal ofthe ice blocks by the hand of the operator or by ice tongs. By referring to Figs. 7 and 8 it will be noted that the camming action of the corrugated grid walls against the ice blocks causes the ice blocks to move in a plurality of directions or upwardly-"and outwardly relative to the longi-- tudinal grid wall 26 and lengthwise along the transverse grid walls 21. Thus the bond between all the walls of the ice block compartments and the ice blocks is broken to permit the removal of ice from the grid structure.

-While I have disclosed the transverse grid.

partitions of walls 21 of the structure 26 as being ,entirely separable from .the longitudinal partition or wall 26 it may be desirable to secure the walls 21 to wall 26 and permit only the movement 'therebetweenas shown and described to effect the ice block releasing action. It is,

camming action desired. I have disclosed the transverse grid walls 21 as being independently moved relative to the longitudinal grid wall 26 but suitable arrangements may beprovided for moving the walls .21 p ressively by a single means from one end iKTthev other end of the' grid structure while still incorporating the principle of my invention ofncorrugating both the longitudinal and transverse partition walls oi the grid structure.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I'have .provided an improved combination to thereby eliminate the necessity of running water over the tray to release the grid and ice therefrom and of applying artificial heat to the grid structure to effect release of ice blocks therefrom. My improved and novel ice tray grid structure is of simple construction, low manufacturing .cost, strong and durable, capable of being operated over a long period of time without damage thereto and with a minimum of force. The device disclosedis constructed entirely of metal, to thereby retain the fast freezing characteristics of metal tray and grid combinations. In my improved grid structure anypredetermined number of ice blocks may be-released therefrom without releasing other ice blocks and after removal of the desired ice blocks from the grid the grid together with the other ice blocks remaining therein may be replaced in the tray and the tray again placed upon its support in or on a cooling element.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is tofbe; understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow,

What is claimed is as follows:

, l. A- grid structure for an ice tray comprising a pluralityof sections, one of said sections being in the form of a longitudinal, partitioning wall andthe other of said sections being in the form v of a partitioning wall extending transversely to said longitudinal wall, one of said sections of said grid structure being movable relative to the.

- other thereof, obstructions on each of said secgrid structure being movable relative to the other tions forming irregular wall surfaces therefor, and the obstructions on one wall section cooperating with the obstructions on said other v wall section to move ice in a plurality of direc-' tions upon moving said grid wall sections relative to one another.

- '2. A grid structure for an ice tray comprising a plurality of sections, once! said section's being in the form of a longitudinal partitioning wall and the other of said sections-being in the form of a partitioning wall extending transversely to -said longitudinal wall, said transverse partitioning wall section of said grid structure being movable upwardly of .said longitudinal partitioning wall section thereof, obstructions on each of said grid sections forming irregular wall surfaces therefor, and the obstructions on one wall section cooperating with the obstructions on said other wall section to move'ice upwardly of said longitudinal wall and outwardly thereof along said transverse wall upon moving the transverse jwall upwardly od the longitudinal wall. 4

- 3. A grid structure for an ice tray comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections being .in the form of a longitudinal partitioning wall" and the other of said sections being in, the form of a partitioning wall extending transversely to said longitudinal wall, said partitioning walls each being corrugated to provide same with irregular wall surfaces, one of said sections of said thereof, and the corrugations in one wall section cooperating with the corrugations in the other of said sections to move ice in a plu-' rality of directions upon moving said grid wall each being corrugated to provide same with irr'egular:wall surfaces. said transverse partitioning wall section of said grid structure being movable upwardly of said longitudinal partitioning wall section thereof, and the corrugations in one wall section cooperating with the corrugations in the other of said wall sections to move ice upwardly of said longitudinal wall,and outwardly thereof along said transverse wall upon moving the transverse wall upwardly of the longitudinal wall.

5. A grid structure for an ice tray comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections being in the form of a single longitudinal partitioning wall and the other of said sections-being-in the form of a plurality of partitioning walls carried by said longitudinal wall and extending transversely thereto, obstructions on each of said partitioning walls forming irregular wall surfaces therefor, said transverse partitioning wall sections of said grid structure being independently movable relative to the longitudinal partitioning wall section thereof, and the obstructions on one wall section cooperating with the obstructions on said other wall section to move ice in a plurality of directions upon moving said grid transverse wallv sections relative to the longitudinal grid wall section.

6. A grid structure for an ice tray comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections being in the form of a single longitudinal partitioning wall and the other of said sections being in the form of a plurality of partitioning walls carried by said longitudinal wall and extending transversely thereto, obstructions on each of said partitioning walls forming irregular wall surfaces therefor, each of said transverse partitioning wall sections of said grid structure being independently movable upwardly of the single longitudinal partitioning wall section thereof, and the obstructions on one wall section cooperating with the obstructions on said other wall sections to move ice upwardly of said single longitudinal wall and outwardly thereof along said transverse walls upon moving one of the transverse walls up-,

wardly of the single longitudinal wall.

' '7. A grid structure for an ice tray comprising a plurality'of sections, one of said sections being in the form of a single longitudinal partitioning wall and the other of said sectionsbeing in the form of a plurality of partitioning walls loosely carried by said longitudinal wall and extending transversely thereto, said partitioning walls each being corrugated to provide same with irregular wall surfaces, said transverse partitioning wall sections of said grid structure being independently movable relative to the longitudinal partitioning wall section thereof, and the corrugations in one wall, section cooperatingwith the corrugations in the other wall section to-move ice in a plurality of directions upon moving said grid transverse wall sections relative to the longitudinal grid wall section.

8. A grid structure for an ice tray comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections being in thejorm of a single longitudinal partitioning wall and the other of said sections being in the form of a plurality of partitioning walls loosely carried by said longitudinal wall and extending transversely thereto,said partitioning walls each being corrugated to provide same with irregular wall surfaces, each of said transverse partitioning wall sections of said grid structure being independently movable upwardly of the single longitudinal partitioning wall section thereof, and the corrugations in one wall section co-operating with the corrugations in the other wall sections to move ice upwardly of said single longitudinal wall and outwardly thereof along said transverse walls upon,:.moving one of the transverse walls upwardly of the single longitudinal wall 9. A grid structure for an ice tray comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections being in the form of a single longitudinal partitioning wall and the other of said sections being in the form of a plurality of partitioning walls loosely iii carried by said longitudinal wall and extending one of the transverse walls upwardly of the single longitudinal wall.

10. A grid structure for an icetray comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections being in the form of a rigid metallic longitudinal par- L titioning wall and the other of said sections being in the form of a rigid metallic partitioning wall carried by said longitudinal wall in intersecting engagement therewith and extending transverse- 1y thereto, said rigid partitioning walls each being corrugated to provide same with irregular wall surfaces, said corrugations extending horizontally along said walls substantially hroughout the lengths thereon-one of said sections of said grid structure being movable relative to the otherv thereof, and the corrugations in one rigid wail section co-operating with'the corrugations in the other of said rigid wall sections to move ice in a plurality of directions upon moving said grid wall sections relative to one another.

'11. A grid structure for an ice tray comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections being i in the form of a single rigid metallic longitudinal partitioning wall and the other of said sections being in. the form of a plurality of rigid metallicpartitioning walls carried by said single longiiidinal wall in spaced apart relation and extendmg transversely thereto; each of said rigid transverse partitioning walls being corrugated to provide same with irregular wall surfaces, said cor-- rugations extending horizontally along said transverse walls substantially throughout the lengths thereoi','each' of said transverse -grid wall sections being movable'relative to said single longitudinal grid wall section, andthe corrugations in said transverse grid wall causing movement of ice re'lative to one 01 said grid sections upon moving-oneoi' said transverse arid walls relative to said single longitudinal wall.

Y 12. The combination with mice tray-of a par.- tition member removably arranged along the iongitudinal axis thereof and a second partition member extending transversely oi and cooperating with the side walls of the tray andvwith said longitudinal partition member to form a pair 0L ice 'cube compartments, theti'ansverse partition member being formed with a portion flangedat the topthereot tov receive a lifting force, and a second'portion arrangedto provide an obstruction to relativestraight' line movement between the ice cubes and the transverse partition and thereby resolve the first mentioned force into component's some of which tends to break the O bond between the ice cube and the partition elements. j

13. The combination with an ice tray of a partition member removably arranged along the longitudinal axis thereof and .a .second partition member extending transversely of and cooper ating with the side walls of the tray and with said longitudinal partition member to form a pair of ice cube compartments, the transverse part1 tion member being formed with a flanged portion at'the top thereof to receive a lifting force, a second portion of said transverse member being formed with indentations arranged to provide .an

obstruction to relative straight line movement between the-ice cubes and the transverse partition and thereby resolve the first mentioned force into components some of which tend to break the bond between the ice cubes and elements.

'14. The combination with an ice tray of a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure comprising a partition member arranged along a longitudinal axisof the tray and a plurality of partition members extending transversely of and in spaced apart relation along the length of said longitudinal partition, said transverse partitions cooperating with the longitudithe partition nal partition of said grid structure and with walls of the tray to form rows of ice block compartments, said transverse partition members being provided with means adapted to receive 'a lifting force, and means on said transverse partition members providing an obstruction to relative straight line movement thereof between ice blocks contacting samewhereby, upon application of said force to. a transverse partition member, said member is'elevated relative to other members and the bond between certain ice partition members is broken.

15. The combination with an ice tray structure of a grid structure removably disposed therein,. said grid structure comprising a partition arranged along a longitudinal axisot the tray and a plurality of partitioning members extending transversely of and in spaced apart relation along blocks and the I the length of said longitudinal partition, said transverse partitioning members cooperating with the longitudinal partition of said grid structure and with walls of the tray structure to form rows of ice block compartments, said transverse partitioning members being-provided with means.

4 adapted to receive a lifting force, means on said transverse partitioning members providing an obstruction to relative straight line movement.

thereof between ice blocks contacting same, and a'lever adapted tobe associated with one of said structures and having a part engaging said first "named means on one of 'saidtransverse partitioning members and another part thereof abuttingand fulcruming about a portion of one 01" said structures whereby, upon application of force to said one transverse partitioning member by said lever, said one transverse partitioning memher is moved independently or and relative'to other oi said transverse partitioning membersto cause the obstruction thereon to move ice blocks adjacent thereto relative to other ice blocks bonded to said grid structure.

- DONALD H. BEEVE, 

